seita conducted thorough research from the choice of materials to the number of fibers needed. he says the most difficult part was finding the best angle at which to braid the fibers. >> translator: a difference in braid angles changes the rate of extension. a slight change in angle may affect the muscle's extension or contraction. >> reporter: seita conducted numerous tests by changing the conditions little by little. finally, he succeeded in creating an artificial muscle measuring only 0.8 millimeters. he says it's the thinnest in the world. okayama university and the south korean company have jointly applied for patents for their technologies. they're now trying to put the new technologies into practical use in a tiny medical apparatus to be inserted into the human body. >> translator: without the braiding know-how we wouldn't have been able to develop the thinnest artificial muscle. >> reporter: the project team has high hopes for the superthin artificial muscle. it envisions the technology being applied to nursing care equipment, and exo skeleton body suits that could assi